How to Create a Dashboard in Google Sheets (10 steps) - Query Formula

This paragraph introduces the concept of building a dashboard in Google Sheets, aimed at users who record sales, business, or job data. The speaker, Michael, explains the limitations of a basic spreadsheet and the benefits of a dashboard, such as automatic updates and easy data interpretation. He outlines a simple 10-step process to build a dashboard and mentions a future video or course for more complex dashboards.

Michael emphasizes the importance of choosing the right columns and structuring data effectively for the dashboard. He suggests organizing data with each row representing a job or sale and columns describing that job. He also advises on fixing data structure and avoiding common mistakes like recording data in a non-optimal layout. Michael demonstrates how to set up columns for dates, client information, salesperson, sale amount, and other relevant data points.

In this section, Michael explains the use of data validation and drop-down menus to ensure consistent data entry. He provides a step-by-step guide on creating drop-down menus for columns like salesperson, job type, and status. This helps in maintaining accuracy when summing up data, such as sales by salesperson or job status. Michael also shows how to add new names to the drop-down menus and how they automatically update in the data set.

Michael discusses the importance of freezing the top row to maintain visibility of the header while scrolling through the data. He also covers reformatting columns for better visibility and performing data validation for dates to ensure consistent formatting. Additionally, he suggests pasting data using 'Paste Values Only' to maintain the formatting of the current sheet and adjusting the format of dollar amounts and other data types.

This paragraph focuses on using conditional formatting to enhance data visualization. Michael demonstrates how to change row colors based on job status, such as highlighting open jobs in red and paid jobs in green. He also talks about center-aligning data and grouping columns for easier data management. The speaker mentions the use of helper columns like 'sale year' and 'sale month' for organizing data by time periods.

Michael introduces the powerful Query formula in Google Sheets, which combines multiple formulas into one. He explains how to build a dashboard by creating 'little tables' using the Query formula, starting with a simple example of finding the sum of sale amounts for each salesperson. The speaker emphasizes the syntax and order of the Query formula and provides tips for avoiding and correcting common mistakes.

In this section, Michael guides on customizing the dashboard with charts and formatting. He explains how to insert charts, customize their appearance, and show data labels. The speaker also discusses modifying the Query formula to include additional metrics like the count of jobs and the average sale amount. He highlights the importance of separating each metric by a comma in the Query formula.

Michael delves into more advanced techniques of the Query formula, including the use of 'where' clauses to filter data and the importance of grouping non-aggregated columns. He clarifies the concept of aggregation and the need to include non-aggregated columns in the 'group by' clause. The speaker also shares a tip on separating clauses by line for better readability and understanding of the Query formula.

This paragraph focuses on labeling and formatting the dashboard data for clarity and aesthetics. Michael explains how to use the 'label' clause in the Query formula to change the names of the headers. He also discusses formatting numbers, aligning text, and the use of 'limit' in the Query formula to restrict the number of rows displayed on the dashboard. The speaker provides examples of how to order data by a specific metric and how to label it effectively.

Michael concludes the dashboard building process by introducing scorecards and sparklines. He explains how to create a scorecard displaying key metrics and how to use sparklines to visualize data trends within individual cells. The speaker provides a detailed guide on formatting the dashboard, including changing background colors, aligning text, and adding dynamic elements like drop-down menus for data sorting.

In the final paragraph, Michael wraps up the dashboard creation process, emphasizing the simplicity and effectiveness of using the Query formula in Google Sheets. He offers additional resources, including a course for advanced dashboard building and a sample dashboard template for purchase. The speaker encourages viewers to subscribe and reach out with questions or topic suggestions for future videos.